Starter



r. PETRL STARTER.

Patented Jan."18,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

fiZLC i ZLQ PezerPefrI APPLICATION FILED SEPTa I2, 19!].

- filly.

P. PETRI.

STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l2, l9-

Patented Jain. 18, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 P916? Pefrzl P. PETRI.

STARTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2. 1917.

1,366,097. Patented Jan. 18,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

[r1 z azzfar. Peter Feb-a,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER rn'rar, or AcoN, ILLINOIS.

STARTER.

nseepev.

Application filed September 12, 1917. Serial No. 190,941.

To all whom it may cor worn:

lie it known that I, Pnrnn PnTRI, a c1ti- Z611 oi the United gtates, and a resident of: g Lacon, in the countv oi lVlarshall and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starters, of which shown in-Fig. 7. scription, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, forming part of this I the following is a full, clear, and exact desion'ot means whereby the necessary energy may be stored in the device.

Another object of my invention is the provision of suitable connections, adjacent to the crank shaft of the engine, whereby the energy stored in the device may be trans mitted to the said crank shaft.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby, when the energy stored in the device is about to be applied to the engine crank shaft, the connections adjacent said crank shaft will be operated automatically. I

Other objects of my invention will appear and be described throughout thespecification.

T he novelty of my invention will bemore fully set forth herein and specifically pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1, is a front elevation of a typical internal combustion engineshowing the ap plication of my device thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the connections adjacent the-end of the crank shaft for imparting the energy of the device thereto. I I I Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, a small portion of the engine appearing in the lower left hand part of the figure. I

Fig. 4 is a plan of parts of what is shown in Fig. 3. I I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a bear ing shown at the right in Figs. 3 and 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the mechanism 111 perspective.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Fig. 6 shows some of the main portions of i Fig; 'Z is an elevation of parts of the mechanlsm vlewed from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 3, but much enlarged, and

"F 1g. 8 is'a rear elevation of certain parts The same reference characters are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

For purposes of illustration and to show one form in which my invention may be embodied, 1 represents the general structure of I an ordinary engine to which a support 2 is attached, the support Qcarrymg a bracket 3 in which the shaft d is journaled, the latter carrying a sprocket 5 at its forward. end and a ratchet 6 between its ends.

The bracket 3 carries a pawl 7 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 6 so that the latter may be turnedin one direction, said pawl 7being held. in engagement with said ratchet '6 by a counter-weight 8, the latter serving the double function oi the counterweight and amovement limit.

An operating lever 9, shaped as shown more clearly in Fig; 3, is pivotally mounted on the bracket 3 as at 10 and carries a pawl 11 which, when the lever 9 is operated, imparts rotation to the ratchet 6.

' A coiled spring 12 surrounds the shaft 4 and is attached, at its forward end, to the ratchet 6, its rear end being attached to a bracket 13, the latterv being secured to a member 14 which in turn is secured to the engine, the construction and arrangement of parts just described being such that when the lever 9 is operated, the spring 12 will be subected to tension and the energy required for starting the engine thus stored.

The bracket 13 is provided with an aperture through which the rear end 15 of the spring 12 projects asclearly shown in Fig. 3. and the shaft 4 is provided with a collar 17 at its rearend, the collar being secured in place by a pin 18. for example, which passes through it and the shaft 4 and projects at one end from the latter, its path of travel being intercepted by the end 15 of the spring 12, the construction and arrangement of the parts just described being such that the pin 18 by coming in contact with the end 15 of the spring 12 forms a yielding stop for the said end 15 and the shaft 4 and its associated parts, the device being so set that the spring 12 is always under some tension, thereby reducing the number of operations required to the rotation of the shaft.

' 25 will all be moved tows be performed on the lever 9 to subject the spring 12 to sufiicient tension to operate the device. The aperture 16 increases in diameter toward its outer end as clearly shown in Fig. 5 so that the end of the spring may readilyplay or flex as the pin 18 meets it in Thus the blow of the pin will be cushioned as it meets the spring-end.

In Fig. 2 I have shown one form of means whereby the energy of the device may be applied to the crank shaft of the engine, the

' dental clutch being provided with a sprocket port1on'26 over whlch and the sprocket 5, a

chain 27 is trained so that when the dental clutch members 20 and 23 are enga ed and the tenslon of the sprlng 12 released, the

crank shaft 19 oi the engine will be rotated.

The jaws o'f'the dental clutch members 20 and 23 are so arranged one another in one directioneonly shown at 28 Fig. 2, to the end that when the speed of theengine becomes greater than the mo tion imparted to it by the device, thc'inchned faces of the jflWS will cause the disengagement voiE the member 23 from the member 20 thereby p 'e\-*enting injury to the device.

The clutch member 23 is caused to engage the'member 20 by means 01" an arm 29 which may be pivotally mountedas at in one of the members 31 of the frame of the machine, for example. The arm 29 may be forked as at 32 and engage over the starting-shaft 25 so that when the arm 29 is operated the clutch member 23 and the starting member 24 as well as the starting crank the clutch member 20 which iscarried by the crank shaft '19. The endwisemovement of the starting crank25cempresses' spring 33, Figs. 3 and 4i, mounted outside of the starting: crank support 3 nermally 'serving as a means't'or holding said starting crank 25 and its as so'ciated'parts away from the crank shaft l9'wh1le the engine is running.

lt is tobeobserved'by reference to A \V i n 2 that the JaWs'OI the starting member'2-jlhear such a relation tothe iaws of the clutch members 20 and 23 that when-the latter are engaged'the former do'not quite engage the 'pin 21 to the endfthat during the operation "of'the' device the startmo' member 2% canthat they engage it bedcsired to start the engine by means of the starting crank 25, the some can he done without causing the operation ol' the starting; device the starting crank 25, and its member 24:, being simply pushed tows rd the crank shaft of lhe engine in the usual manner, the operation being carried out exactly as though my device were not at tached.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown a pull rod by means of which the application of the energy of t is spring 112 to the crank shaft 19 is accompli hed, the pull rod -35 extending "forwardly from any suitable foot pedal or other operating dc": :c (not shown) to a post below the bracket 3. it is threaded as at 36 and receives an adjustable block 37 to which one end of a spring 138 is at tached the other end being attached to the a rm Said spring is of sulli: icnt strength to overcome the tension of the spring ii) and cause the engagementot the clinch members and 23 when the pull rod 35 ioperated.

A second adjustable block Ill) is mounted on the rod 35 and is attached to the lower end of a bell crank all),

mounted as at ii on the bracket 23 and having its short arm in engagement with :1 per tion of the pawl so th: 1 when the pull rod 35 is operated the pawl '7 is rained out of engagement with the ratchet (l.

h second bell crank 4-2 is :-:iiil':ihl mounted on the bracket 3 and shaped a more clearly shown in Fig. 4-, its long; arm occupying a position in the line of trave (it the bell crank 40. Its short arm is adapted to bear against the pawl 11 to hold it in such a position that the ratchet 6 may turn freely, the construction and arrangement of the parts just described being such that the pawls 7 and 11 will only be dis-cu; from the ratchet 6 when the pull rm is operated to cause the engagement of the clutch members 20 and 23.

The pawl is forked at its upper end as shown more clearly at 43 to engage the sides of the ratchet 6 so that it is always maintained in proper position with relation thereto. The lower end of the pawl is pivotally connected to the lever 9 and in order to exert pressure on the pawl 11 to cause it to engage the ratchet (l, the pivot member connecting the pawl 11 and lover 9 may be extended as shown at 4:4: Fig. i and a spring" 4:5 may be attached at one end thereto. The upper end of said spring is altachcd to the member 2. Said spring serves both as a means for causing the engagement of the the latter being f ll till

and a sheave at? may be mounted therein to afford means whereby the energy necessary to subject the spring 12 to the proper tension may be reduced, this reduction being accomplished by securing one endof a cable or other flexible medium to some stationary part of the machine, the cable then passing over the sheave 47 and to asuitable location for operation which, when the device is used. in connection with an automobile, is usually a point easily reached by the driver of the vehicle, the movement of the free end of the cable 48 being twice as great as the travel of the lever 9, the consequent required energy is one half.

In cases where the compounding above mentioned and described is not required, a suitable rod or cable 49, dotted lines, Fig. 3 may be attached directly to the lever 9 for its operation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When it is desired to start the engine the lever 9 is operated a suflicient number of times to subject the spring 12 to the required tension, the shaft 4- being turned, in obtaining such tension, through nearly a full revolution, the pin 18 being carried from one side of the spring-end to the other, whereupon the operator depresses the foot pedal or otherwise causes a movement of the pull rod 35. The latter through the connections previously described, causes the engagement of the clutch member-23 with the member 20, and operates the bell crank to raise the pawl 7 out of its engagement with the ratchet 6, the movement of said bell crank 40 also operating the bell crank 42 to simultaneously disengage the pawl 11 from the ratchet 6, releasing the spring 12. The

energy of the latter through the chain 27 is transmitted to the crank shaft 19, thereby setting the latter in motion, starting the engine.

As shown in Fig. 3 a coil spring may connect the bell crank 42 with the bell crank 40 to prevent rattle and to insure the return movement of the bell crank 42 after the pull rod 35 has been operated.

As a means of maintaining the proper ten sion of the chain 27, an adjusting screw 51, Figs. 3 and i, may pass through lug 52 on bracket 3 and bear against the support 2, and the bracket 3 may be provided with a slotted hole as at 53 Fig. 1 so that said bracket 3 may be adjusted to raise or lower the shaft 4.

By means of the adjustments provided for the blocks 37 and 39 on the pull rod 35 the tension of the spring 38 may be varied and the position of the bell crank 40 may be changed so thatthe separate parts of the device may be caused to properly function.

To assist in maintaining the proper alinement of the parts of the device, and as clearly shown in Fig. 4;, a tube 54 is mounted in the rear bracket 13 and surrounds the shaft 4. extending from the rear bracket 13 to a point adjacent the hub of the ratchet (3. This tube serves a double function of maintaining alinement of the rear bracket 18 and preventing distortionof the spring 12 when the latter is fully wound.

Having thus fully described my invention. I claim:

1. In a starter the combination of a bracket adapted to be mounted on an engine, a shaft carried by said bracket, a spring surrounding a portion of said shaft, a rear support to which said spring is attached, a ratchet carried by said shaft to which said spring is attached, a pawl for operatin g said 'atchet to subject said spring to tension, a lever for operating said pawl, a second pawl carried by said bracket and engaging said ratchet, means for disengaging said pawl to release said spring, and connections between said shaft and a movable part of the engine whereby when said spring is released the movable part of the engine is set in motion.

2. In a starter, in combination with a gearing for rotating an engine crank-shaft, of a power delivering mechanism including a support and a shaft, a ratchet wheel sccured to the latter, a spring surrounding the shaft, fixed at one end with respect to the ratchet wheel, and at its other end relatively to the support, and having a free extremity capable of lateral flexing movement, and a stop on the shaft in position to engage the said free extremity in the rotation of said shaft.

3. In an engine starter the combination of. a support, a shaft carried at one end therein. a coil spring surrounding a portion of said shaft, a support for the opposite end of the shaft to which said spring is attached, said spring at one end being fixed relatively to the shaft, said spring at its end attached to the support having a free portion adapted to flex, and a laterally extending part on the shaft adapted to engage said free portion.

4. In a starter the combination of a shaft, a forward bearing for said shaft, a rear bearing for said shaft, a housing extending from said rear bearing toward sai d forward bearing and surrounding said shaft, a spring surrounding said housing and attached to said rear bearing and to a winding member, a winding member secured to said shaft whereby said spring is subjected to tension, and connections from said shaft whereby an engine may be started.

5. In a starter the combination of a crank shaft clutch, a sprocket carried thereby, an arm adapted to engage said clutch to shift the latter longitudinally into engagement with the crank shaft of the engine, a shaft, a sprocket on said shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket and the sprocket of said clutch, a ratchet carried by said shaft, a spring se cured to said ratchet and to a stationary member, an operating lever, a pawl carried by said lever for engaging said ratchet whereby said spring may be subjected to tension, a second pawl for maintaining the tension to which said spring is subjected, an arm for disengaging said second pawl from said ratchet, an arm for disengaging the first mentioned pawl from said ratchet, said arm being operated by said second mentioned arm, a pull rod for operating said second mentioned arm, and a yielding connection between said pull'rod and said iirst mentioned arm whereby when said pull rod is operated said clutch will be caused to engage the crank shaft of theengine and said pawls will be caused to disengage said ratchet and the energy of said spring will be transmitted to the crank shaft of the engine.

6. In an engine starter, the combination with a clutch portion for engaging the engine shaft, of a power delivery element, a spring connected therewith adapted to he placed under tension to drive the same, a

spring-winding pawl to engage the element,

and a stop-motion pawl also to engage said element, a driving connection between the element andthe clutch portion, a lever mechanism for disengaging both pawls from the element including a part to engage the clutch portion with the engine shaft, and an elastic member connecting the said part and the said lever mechanism.

7. In a starter attachment for an internal combustion engine, the combination with the engine shaft and a movable clutch portion for engaging the same, of a bracket adapted for attachment to the engine, a shaft supported therein, a ratchet wheel secured upon the shaft, a spring surrounding the shaft attached at one end to the ratchet wheel and fixed at its other end, a sprocket wheel on said shaft, a driving connection between the sprocket wheel and the said movable clutch portion, a lever mounted on the support, a pawl carried thereby adapted for winding the spring through said ratchet wheel, a stop-motion pawl mounted on the support engaging the ratchet wheel, lever-mechanism for simultaneously disengaging both pawls from the ratchet wheel including a part for manually operating said lever, a lever engaging the said movable clutch portion, and an elastic member connecting the last named lever and the manually operated part.

PETER PETE-I. 

